Main Content

[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

You can't be stopped for driving in Virginia without a seat belt. It looks like it'll remain that way.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports, Lance Armstrong says he may skip the next Tour De France.
Tech and UVa will be playing football before Thanksgiving next year.
Express coach Perry Florio is now delivering donuts.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Rickey Bustle will not be leaving Tech for Toledo.
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[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

Looking for fast changes in the forecast once again. We will explain in tonight's weather report.

[Presidency]

Still no decision from the U-S Supreme Court.
The justices are still deliberating the Florida recount case.
News 7 and CBS News will bring you their decision whenever it is announced.
Earlier in the day, the Florida Supreme Court refused to throw out some 25-thousand absentee ballots from Seminole and Martin counties.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=703-Tallahassee, FL]

Meanwhile, the Republican-run Florida House has approved 25 electors pledged to George W. Bush.
The state senate takes up the issue tomorrow.
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[Substitute-Shortage]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-45 TC33:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Roanoke County is considering a plan to recruit more substitute teachers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
The school board is considering lowering the educational requirements to work as a sub.
Right now, Roanoke County requires a four year degree in any field to work as a substitute.
Under the proposal, substitutes would only be required to have an Associate's Degree or, in some cases, two years of college.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:18:22]
[IN Q=We feel]
((TOM HALL/ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF PERSONNEL: WE FEEL LIKE DOING ALL THAT WE'RE BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS SO THAT THEY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE TAKING OFF TO DO THEIR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH ACTIVITIES AND THINGS THEY NEED TO DO TO BECOME BETTER TEACHERS WITHOUT CREATING A SHORTAGE IN THE CLASSROOM.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Hall/Asst. Super. of Personnel;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=in the classroom.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Virginia Education Association says the sub shortage is a state and nationwide problem.
The Roanoke County school board will vote on the proposal next Monday.
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[Seat-Belts]

17 other states do it.
Safety advocates guess it could save as many as 80 lives a year in Virginia.
But the primary seat belt enforcement bill appears to have died again, before the General Assembly's even gotten revved up this winter.
Ellen Qualls reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We all know]
[SUPER=04-Insurance Institute; :00]
[SUPER=01-Patty French/Fredericksburg Resident; :]
[SUPER=01-Del. Jack Reid/(R) Henrico Co.; :]
[SUPER=01-Del. Jerrauld Jones/(D) Norfolk; :]
[SUPER=@Ellen2; :]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News7, Richmond.]
(( We all know seatbelts save lives.
We know they've been mandatory in Virginia since 1986.
But we also know we won't get in trouble for NOT wearing one unless a police officer pulls us for another offense.
So safety advocates say one out of every three drivers or passengers in Virginia is NOT wearing a belt.
[sot ]
((PATTY FRENCH/FREDERICKSBURG RESIDENT: MY SON LEFT THE HOUSE... HE WAS ALREADY IN A COMA.))
[runs:17]
Virginia's House Transportation Committee heard emotional testimony on both sides of a bill that would allow police to pull you and ticket you for NOT wearing a safety belt.
[sot 04;56]
((DEL. JACK REID/R-HENRICO CO.: WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO STOP AND PULL OVER AT ELEVEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT...INVASION OF PRIVACY... WITHOUT BEING STOPPED.))
[runs:22 ]
The bill died on a 50-50 vote in the full House last year, partly amidst concerns that it could increase racial profiling of African-American drivers.
This year, the head of the Legislative Black Caucus is a co-sponser, after he learned that black motorists use seat belts less than the state average.
[sot 8:00]
((DEL. JERRAULD JONES/D-NORFOLK: THE FACTS ARE THAT THE LARGEST... LEGISLATING A KNOWN KILLER RIGHT OUT OF EXISTENCE. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.))
[runs:18 ]
The bill died on a 10-10 tie vote.
Jones says he'll reintroduce and hope for converts next month.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]

There are a lot of Oldsmobiles travelling the roads of Southwest Virginia-- for now.
More on a big announcement from G-M and what it means for Olds owners Next on News 7 at Six.
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[VO-NAT]

And a famous photographer and a Norfolk Southern engine grace the pages of Vanity Fair.
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[Oldsmobile]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-48 TC42:26]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Roanoke Valley has one of the largest percentages of Oldsmobile owners in the country. At least it does now.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
General Motors announced today it's phasing out Oldsmobile in a bid to boost competitiveness.
The elimination of the brand will take place over the next several years.
Local dealers say Oldsmobile owners shouldn't worry about maintenance. Parts will be made available for 10 years.
And, dealers say, now is actually a great time for Oldsmobile owners to buy a new one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:26 - 22:34]
[IN Q=Customers from...]
((DANNY HART/SALES MANAGER-HART MOTOR CO.: CUSTOMERS FROM '96 FORWARD WILL RECEIVE THIS CERTIFICATE FOR 15-HUNDRED DOLLARS TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW OLDSMOBILE.))
[SUPER=01-Danny Hart/Hart Motor Company]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=a new Oldsmobile.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
General Motors will also cut the work force in an effort to return to profitability.
The company posted a 181-million dollar loss during the third quarter, and anticipates a much larger loss in the fourth quarter.
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[Hickson]

Accident or murder .. that's the question a judge has to answer in the trial of Sonya Hickson in Bedford County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Hickson is charged with second degree murder in the death of 13 month old Frances Vermillion in February of 1998.

[SUPER=03-Bedford;]

Hickson was babysitting Vermillion in her home near Hardy when she claims the toddler fell out of a chair and hit her head.
Hickson later amended her story and told police she had also dropped the child at least twice that morning.
An autopsy showed Vermillion suffered at least two blunt impact injuries to the head.
The medical examiner testified it is possible the injuries could have resulted from separate falls, but that they are also consistent with someone who has been slapped or kicked in the head.
Testimony in the case is expected to resume tomorrow morning.
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[Pritchett]

The man who's serving a life sentence for killing another man at the Ironto Rest Stop won a minor victory today... even though Bud Pritchett's conviction was upheld on appeal.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-1997]

The Virginia Court of Appeals accepted Pritchett's confession as "voluntary," while one of the three judges who reviewed the case questioned "police tactics" in obtaining the statement.
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./April 1997]

Estel Singleton was murdered at the rest stop... his bank and credit cards stolen.
Pritchett admitted he used the victim's A-T-M card, claimed he found them. There was no direct evidence that linked Pritchett to the murder, beyond his own statement.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]

Today Judge James Benton cited Pritchett's low I-Q and the fact that police lied to him to get him to come in and talk to them.
Attorney Jimmy Turk says Benton's dissent may help get the full Court to re-hear the case.

[Body-Found]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Roanoke police have released the name of a man found dead over the weekend in a vacant apartment.
He is identified as 51-year old Cleveland Junior Martin.
Police have already determined he died from blunt force trauma to the head. But they are still asking the public for any information that could help them determine exactly what happened.

[Vanity-Fair]

The results are in. Not the results of the election...
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/August 2;]
but the results of the photo shoot that took place at the Norfolk Southern shops back in August.
As you may remember, Vanity Fair magazine needed steam locomotive 1218 as a monster prop in some pictures of photographer O. Winston Link.
At the time, magazine staffers wouldn't say exactly why they needed the shots.
Now we know.
The magazine's January edition honors 18 influential photographers who are active in their 80s and beyond.
Link, who turns 86 this month, is included because of his famous nighttime shots of Norfolk & Western steam trains.
Other photographers named in the article include "Life" magazine pioneer Gordon Parks, portrait master Yousuf ((YOU-seff)) Karsh, and former Nazi photographer Leni Riefenstahl ((LAY-nee RYE-fun-stall)).
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[Habitat]

Donations are helping Habitat for Humanity build homes in the New River Valley that were on hold because of missing money.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]

Patty Furrow and her son got the keys to their new Habitat house at a dedication ceremony today.
First National Bank employees helped pay for and build the house.
In October, Habitat and several New River Valley charities found more than half-a-million dollars missing.
Their money was handled by N-R-C Management.
Now, six of seven Habitat houses are moving forward... thanks to 57-thousand dollars in donations -- including a 10-thousand dollar anonymous donation.
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[SOT 14:30 - :43]
[IN Q=It was amazing]
((TERRY FITZWATER-PALMORE: IT WAS AMAZING THAT SOMEBODY WOULD TAKE THAT MUCH MONEY, DONATE IT AND NOT EVEN WANT AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR IT. IT WAS JUST SUCH A BLESSING TO RECEIVE THAT DONATION AND IT JUST BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES.))
[SUPER=01-Terri Fitzwater-Palmore/NRV Habitat For Humanity;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=tears to my eyes.]
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[VO-NAT]

No one has been charged in connection with the charities' missing money.
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[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports, everything from the Bustle Hustle to the offer of a helping hand from George Welsh to the
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
delivery of donuts from the Roanoke Express players and head coach Perry Florio.
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[S-Bustle]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-79 5116 tc]
[GRAPHIC=TECH FB]
Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle will be staying put in Blacksburg, afterall.
and not heading to Ohio.
Bustle was in Toledo interviewing for the head coaching vacancy at the University of Toledo yesterday, but late this afternoon the folks up there decided to stay in-house as they picked Tom Amstutz.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
The 45 year Amstutz has been an assistant for the Rockets for 21 years.
Bustle is one of the more popular Tech assistants.
He has been the Hokies offensive coordinator for 7 seasons, and he has been a part of Frank Beamer's staff for 13 years leading Tech to never before seen heights.
(------------)

[S-UVa]

If you're one of those folks who likes to plan for things way ahead of time, the date for the UVa-Tech football game in 2001 was released today.
The Hoos and Hokies will hook up in Charlottesville on Saturday November 17th, the weekend before Thanksgiving.
[GRAPHIC=UVA]
While it's uncertain just who will be coaching UVa in that game, just retired George Welsh says he would be glad to lend his successor a helping hand, if the new coach would like one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="If I can]
[SUPER=01-George Welsh/Spent 19 Seasons at UVa; :00]
[SUPER=01-Terry Holland/UVa Athletic Director; :25]
[RUNS=:33]
[OUT Q=.....his decision"]
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[S-NCAA]

Last year, Frank Beamer was picking up all the coach of the year honors.
This year it seems to be Oklahoma's Bob Stoops turn.
Stoops has been chosen The Associated Press College Coach of the Year for 2000.
In his second season as a head coach, he's guided the
12-and-0 Sooners to the number-one ranking and a shot at the
school's first national championship since 1985.
Stoops received 41 of the 91 votes in the A-P balloting. South Carolina's Lou Holtz was second with 19 votes.

[S-France]

The most popular cyclist in the United States, and urguably the world, says he may not attempt to defend his back to back Tour De France titles.
The problem is not that Lance Armstrong's cancer has returned, but it is a medical issue that may keep him out of the saddle.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Tour DuPont Archives;]
Armstrong is concerned that he and many of his teammates are constantly being used of using performance enhancing drugs.
Lance and his US Postal service mates have denied using the drug Actovegin that contains calf's blood. That drug was banned today by the International Olympic Committee.
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[S-Express]

The Express is preparing for another three game set that starts Thursday at Greensboro.
[GRAPHIC=Full Screen Roundhouse wrap up-----18050]

But coffee and donuts took precedence over game plans and scouting reports in this edition of Steve Mason's Round House Rap Up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :24]
[SUPER=01-Perry Florio/Express Head Coach; :39(QUICK!!!!!!)]
[SUPER=01-Melissa Gorrell/Optician; 1:36]
[RUNS=2:00]
[OUT Q=..Round House Wrap up"]
(------------)
((STEVE MASON))
((During an Express pre game radio show recently, Florio got tired of talking about the power play and penalty kill, so, to make things more interesting, he gave away a few tickets to the first fan who called the Express office. The next offer? The first fan to call gets Florio and two of players to deliver donuts and coffee to his or her Roanoke business.
[NAT SOUND]
8 AM Tuesday morning and Florio is ready. Coffee in hand and piping hot. Time to go pick up the players, Anthony Belza and Adam Dewan.
[NAT SOUND-WILL THERE BE ANY DONUTS LEFT?]
8:12 AM arrive at players apartment and they are ready.
[NAT SOUND-GOING TO DELVIER SOME DONUTS]
[PERRY ON APPROVAL OF APARTMENT]
Players and coach arrive at the store to get the donuts at 8:25. Decision time. Which donuts to pick. After the cashier rings up the sale, Florio breaks down the choices.
[FLORIO]
Destination reached at 8:45, an opticians business. Donuts and coffee are delivered and then the players get a tour, meeting doctors and staff. Definitely the high point of these folks day.
((:))
((:))
((:))
ason Round House Wrap up.))
Time to go, practice is in an hour, nothing like starting some fans off with a true breakfast of champions. Steve M